Str8's VMCC Round 1

**Str8 Jacket** · 18th May 2009, 14:43

Wow! What a weekend! I had never raced Taupo before so I was very grateful for the opportunity to take Malcolms bike out on the Test Day in the Tuesday before. I was running in a new piston so had no choice but to take it easy. I got 35 odd laps in and got to learn the track. It is after all just "a track"...

I had 2 goals for this round and I will have the same 2 goals for every round following.
Goal 1: Finish the race
Goal 2: Work towards a top ten placing by the end of the series.

PRACTICE QUALIFYING:
Bloody darn weather started to rain just as we went out. I qualified 26th at the grid and 10th in SS150's with a very slow time of 2.39.xxx. It was slippery as hell and I was nervous as hell and to be honest I think I only got 3 laps in in qualifying and I was just glad to finish up right and with a working bike!

RACE 1
I got a crap start and even braked at one point "just to let someone through", like WTF?! Anyway once I got through turn 1 I was a bit more awake. However I was still nervous enough to let a Jelaca through at one point just cause I was scared of the track service. I had a great battle with Jase W and manged to keep him off and I finished 10th with a time of 2:21.xxx. My nerves started to settle when I saw the sun coming out...

RACE 2
I got a much better start. The bikes just seemed to seperate in front of me and then I saw Malcolm trying to run off the track at turn 1. I was worried thinking that he may have seized but he passed me again a few seconds later, doh!
I was much more relaxed by this stage, even though my Boss and both my parents were there watching (no pressure or anything). I had a great battle with Jase W this time and had to really work at keeping him behind me. I was stoked to only just beat him across the finish line.

So I finished the day in 11th doing a 2:18 ish. Needs to improve!

LESSONS LEARNT:

Ignore your nerves, what will happen will happen. I need to start relaxing and moving off the bike, in race 2 I had to lift me foot off the pegs round every corner just to stop contact. This will come with a bit more confidence.
Braking later will not kill me and I need to stop using my brakes so much.
Being in the right gear helps, especially with traction, doh.
Relax, Relax, Relax!!!

I had a great weekend and must thank everyone in our pit, especially Malcolm.

BRING ON ROUND 2!!!

**Trudes** · 18th May 2009, 14:47

Good for you Hels!!!

**Nasty** · 18th May 2009, 14:51

Good on ya ... good for lessons learned (can you tell what i do for a job!!!) ... now to remember to take them forward and apply them to the next race!!!!

**wharfy** · 18th May 2009, 14:59

good write up - good racing too

**Clivoris** · 18th May 2009, 15:37

Absolutely love your work Hels. Can't wait to see how you're going at the end of the season and the Cliffhanger.

**Str8 Jacket** · 18th May 2009, 17:15

Originally Posted by Clivoris

Absolutely love your work Hels. Can't wait to see how you're going at the end of the season and the Cliffhanger.

hehe, dont you mean "if" you're still going?

**koba** · 18th May 2009, 17:47

Your sooo dreamy

**sinfull** · 18th May 2009, 18:16

Originally Posted by koba

Your sooo dreamy

Will you two get a room ! Oh wait, ya got one, even if it's full of bikes haha least ya can both roll over and look at your other loves aye !

Well done Hells, prick of a track in that weather ! On ya !

**ryanf062** · 18th May 2009, 18:19

well done.
nice goal setting as well. its always good to finish a race

**Skunk** · 18th May 2009, 18:25

Awesome Hel's. Don't you go learning to get off the bike... I think I'll have problems beating you at buckets already!
Sorry I didn't really get to watch you.

**Str8 Jacket** · 18th May 2009, 18:36

Originally Posted by koba

Your sooo dreamy

Your sooo cute

Originally Posted by sinfull

Well done Hells, prick of a track in that weather ! On ya !

Mate, I will be honest. Until the end of the 1st race I was shitting myself. I was just saying to Malcolm that I really was riding very nervously and know I could've done alot better but talking is cheap, eh!

Originally Posted by ryanf062

its always good to finish a race

And alot easier said than done for me!

Originally Posted by Skunk

Awesome Hel's. Don't you go learning to get off the bike... I think I'll have problems beating you at buckets already!
Sorry I didn't really get to watch you.

Cheers for helping run a great day. I wont be beating you any time soon at buckets mate. One day, when I grow up maybe....

Also, I forgot to add in my original post... There are a few people who actually helped get me out there on Saturday; HerB4, Nasty, Number1 and Sully60 (so sorry guy's), Trudes and Kendog, Aj Turbo and James Deuce, if I have forgotten anyone SORRY! They all offered me work around there gardens, locking their children in the loo, vacuuming concrete etc etc Between all the work that they offered me and the repairs and parts that were required I ended up with about $10 spare. So thank's heaps for supporting me guy's, it really means alot and I could not have done it without your generpsity!! AND my bike is still going!!!

**Trudes** · 18th May 2009, 18:56

Hey hun, YOU did all the hard work, you earnt every cent you put towards your racing, so well done you!!

**scracha** · 18th May 2009, 20:03

Originally Posted by Str8 Jacket

even though my Boss and both my parents were there watching

Weird, I've never thought of you having parents. You are Irrepressible no?
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Keep racing and you will reach enlightenment. You are getting faster